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Brian Campbell announces retirement after 17 NHL seasons

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Monday, July 17, 2017
8:24:49 EDT PM

Defenseman Brian Campbell is retiring at age 38 after playing 17 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. Campbell announced his retirement Monday, July 17, 2017. (Kathy Willens/AP Photo/Files)

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Defenceman Brian Campbell is retiring at age 38 after playing 17 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.

Campbell announced his retirement Monday. The Blackhawks say he’ll join their business operations department, assisting with community and youth hockey initiatives and marketing.

“I’m excited to transition into the next step in both my professional career and life,” Campbell said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the countless number of teammates, coaches, team staff and fans that I have crossed paths with throughout my playing career in Chicago, Buffalo, Florida and San Jose. The Blackhawks organization has allowed me to take on this challenge, and I’m thankful for this new opportunity.”

Campbell had 87 goals and 417 assists for 504 points in 1,082 regular-season games with the Sabres, Sharks, Blackhawks and Panthers. Buffalo drafted the Strathroy, Ontario, native in the sixth round in 1997, and Campbell appeared in four All-Star Games.

The smooth-skating, left-shooting, offensive-minded defenceman played in 423 consecutive games from 2011-2016. His ironman streak ended in December not because of injury but when coach Joel Quenneville made Campbell a healthy scratch.

The Blackhawks signed Campbell to a $57.14 million, eight-year contract in 2008, and he played almost 20 minutes a game during their Cup run before a salary-cap crunch led to a trade to the Florida Panthers in 2011. He finished his career in Chicago and will continue to live in the area with his family after taking a job in the Blackhawks’ front office.

“After a brilliant career on the ice, Brian will remain an important part of our franchise,” Blackhawks president and CEO John McDonough said.